Public Safety Power Shutoff

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  Unfortunate

  by HT, 4 months ago

  Because of Xcels shut off of United Power, we were without water for those days. It cost me $450 to replace a controller on my holding tank, because the shut off was so long and it surged when the power came on. Resulting in three more days without water. People in the mountains live with wells, when there isn't electricity we can't drink or flush, or shower. Thank you Xcel for this unnecessary long outage that cost United Power customers money.

  Because of Xcels shut off of United Power, we were without water for those days. It cost me $450 to replace a controller on my holding tank, because the shut off was so long and it surged when the power came on. Resulting in three more days without water. People in the mountains live with wells, when there isn't electricity we can't drink or flush, or shower. Thank you Xcel for this unnecessary long outage that cost United Power customers money.
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  Complete CYA move by Xcel

  by terry80403, 4 months ago

  I live in Gilpin so I should not have been impacted by the latest "public safety" outage, but I was. Some idiotic person on the board from United Power decided it was a good idea to buy our electricity from Xcel although it has always been an independent provider. When Xcel decided to cut power, which they said was for "public safety," but was actually a CYA and punitive move because they were held responsible for the Marshall fire, at least partially, they also cut the transmission line to United Power, without determining if it was even necessary. I was... Continue reading

  I live in Gilpin so I should not have been impacted by the latest "public safety" outage, but I was. Some idiotic person on the board from United Power decided it was a good idea to buy our electricity from Xcel although it has always been an independent provider. When Xcel decided to cut power, which they said was for "public safety," but was actually a CYA and punitive move because they were held responsible for the Marshall fire, at least partially, they also cut the transmission line to United Power, without determining if it was even necessary. I was without power for four days, except for about 2 hours. These type of winds happen every December and January in Gilpin and we have never had a planned shutoff. We are prepared for such events and United Power has always done an excellent job until now. Gilpin County was not even listed on the outage map and when I called Xcel to ask why, they did not know we had an outage. I also blame United Power for their poor decisions but I think both companies should be fined and the funds reimbursed to the customers to help pay for loss of income, spoiled food, and inconvenience. I was told by United Power they will not refund any of the transmission charge or utility charge even though they were not transmitting anything. Utility companies need to be regulated because they are aware they can do what they want and we have no other options for electricity.
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  Xcel's unreasonable response to being sued.

  by Chas, 4 months ago
  I'd like to comment on the preemptive power shutoffs. First, high winds in the front range are NOT new. My personal experience only goes back to 1969 when the Anemometer at NCAR broke due to over speed at something over 130 MPH, however, the foothills topography that drives these winds hasn't changed! Yes, some power lines did break, however, Public Service of Colorado fixed them quickly. (Service, not huge corporate profit).

  Secondly a combination of Xcel's unreasonable shutoff policies combined with Century Link/Lumen's lack of a decent backup power source renders many residents totally without emergency (or other) communication. This... Continue reading

  I'd like to comment on the preemptive power shutoffs. First, high winds in the front range are NOT new. My personal experience only goes back to 1969 when the Anemometer at NCAR broke due to over speed at something over 130 MPH, however, the foothills topography that drives these winds hasn't changed! Yes, some power lines did break, however, Public Service of Colorado fixed them quickly. (Service, not huge corporate profit).

  Secondly a combination of Xcel's unreasonable shutoff policies combined with Century Link/Lumen's lack of a decent backup power source renders many residents totally without emergency (or other) communication. This leads to the things that have changed since 1969. These are greatly increased population in the foothills and decreased moisture due to climate change. Now we are marginally served by utilities driven by primarily by stockholder profit margins, that keep reducing service while continually demanding rate increases.

  Because I had the means to do it, we avoided losing hundreds of dollars worth of food and maintained communications capabilities through use of a propane fueled generator and satellite (Starlink) internet. Many people do not have this capability. The neighbors were forced due to stay in a hotel since they lost water (no pump power), heat, light and phone service.
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  Stop These Power Shut Offs

  by AngelaP, 4 months ago

  Dear Public Officials,

  I am writing as a Boulder resident to urge you to take immediate action to protect our community from the growing and dangerous impacts of Xcel Energy’s Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). I live in the Holiday Neighborhood, a relatively new part of Boulder where most power lines are underground. Despite this, our neighborhood is consistently included in PSPS events, creating unreasonable and unnecessary hardship for residents. We experienced power outages lasting 24 hours on April 6, 2024; 27 hours on December 17, 2025; and 33 hours on December 19, 2025. During each outage, I was forced... Continue reading

  Dear Public Officials,

  I am writing as a Boulder resident to urge you to take immediate action to protect our community from the growing and dangerous impacts of Xcel Energy’s Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). I live in the Holiday Neighborhood, a relatively new part of Boulder where most power lines are underground. Despite this, our neighborhood is consistently included in PSPS events, creating unreasonable and unnecessary hardship for residents. We experienced power outages lasting 24 hours on April 6, 2024; 27 hours on December 17, 2025; and 33 hours on December 19, 2025. During each outage, I was forced to throw away $200–$300 worth of spoiled groceries. I could not cook or heat my home, and I lost reliable cell service. Without cell service, I was unable to receive emergency alerts or safety texts, and I could not communicate with family or emergency services. This alone represents a serious public safety failure.

  Beyond individual households, these outages had severe impacts on the broader community. Many of Boulder’s traffic lights were not functioning and effectively became four-way stops, making driving throughout the city dangerous. Traffic backed up significantly on Jay Road, Iris Avenue, and Highway 119. Highway 36 between Boulder and Lyons was closed, further limiting evacuation routes. In the event of a wildfire or other emergency requiring evacuation, these conditions could be catastrophic. Residents could be trapped in gridlocked traffic, unable to leave Boulder in a safe or timely manner. At present, Xcel Energy appears to be unilaterally determining conditions that directly affect Boulder’s emergency response and public safety. A private utility company should not be making decisions of this magnitude without stronger public oversight and accountability.

  Colorado is a high-wind state and high-wind events are quite common in our state. Xcel Energy should be required to invest in long-term infrastructure solutions, including burying power lines, rather than relying on repeated, prolonged shutoffs that shift risk onto residents. Whenever my power is shut off, my household is thrown into survival mode. As a teacher in our community, I can’t be expected to serve my community in the classroom when I can’t even take care of the basic needs of my family and myself because Xcel Energy has shut off my power for 24 or more hours. Additionally, residents should be compensated for documented losses such as spoiled food, meds, and other essential expenses caused by these outages. The current situation places a disproportionate burden on citizens while absolving the utility of responsibility.

  I respectfully ask that you:

  • Advocate for stronger oversight of Xcel Energy’s PSPS decisions
  • Require infrastructure improvements that reduce or eliminate the need for PSPS
  • Protect Boulder neighborhoods with underground power lines from unnecessary shutoffs
  • Ensure compensation for residents who incur financial losses
  • Prioritize public safety and emergency readiness over utility convenience

  These outages are not merely inconvenient—they are dangerous. I urge you to take action to ensure that Boulder’s safety, mobility, and emergency preparedness are not compromised by unilateral utility decisions by Xcel Energy. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I appreciate your leadership and commitment to the safety of our community.

  Sincerely,

  A.P.

  North Boulder Resident
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  Unnecessarily long shutoff with inadequate and inaccurate communication

  by ????, 4 months ago
  We understand that Xcel is being prudent in shutting off power to avoid the risk of wildfire during high wind events. But the shutoff in December 2025 went on for much longer than necessary and was characterized by misleading and inaccurate communication from Xcel. Notifications concerning the timing of power shutoff and restoration were inaccurate. Shutoffs occurred earlier than stated and restoration occurred later than stated. Some shutoffs were unannounced. It seems likely that the wind danger was not present for the entire time of the shutoff. In fact, for most of the time during the shutoff, it simply wasn't... Continue reading

  We understand that Xcel is being prudent in shutting off power to avoid the risk of wildfire during high wind events. But the shutoff in December 2025 went on for much longer than necessary and was characterized by misleading and inaccurate communication from Xcel. Notifications concerning the timing of power shutoff and restoration were inaccurate. Shutoffs occurred earlier than stated and restoration occurred later than stated. Some shutoffs were unannounced. It seems likely that the wind danger was not present for the entire time of the shutoff. In fact, for most of the time during the shutoff, it simply wasn't very windy in our neighborhood. We were forced to discard a large quantity of spoiled food and certainly lost productivity during the shutoff. Xcel needs to have a much more targeted system for these types of preventative shutoffs, with far better and more accurate communications.

  
  

  
  
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  Frustrated in Golden

  by slynn, 4 months ago

  Coloradans have lived with high winds for over a century without "preventative" blackouts. The shutoffs on December 17th and 19th were not about safety; they were a calculated move to hold the public hostage while lobbying for total liability immunity.

  In Golden, the winds on the 19th were mild—the afternoon was calm—yet thousands were left to suffer. We watched food rot and seniors sit in cold homes for a "crisis" that never materialized.

  Our legislators consistently pass laws that make operations harder for small businesses; it is time they applied that same rigor to utility monopolies. We need a legislative... Continue reading

  Coloradans have lived with high winds for over a century without "preventative" blackouts. The shutoffs on December 17th and 19th were not about safety; they were a calculated move to hold the public hostage while lobbying for total liability immunity.

  In Golden, the winds on the 19th were mild—the afternoon was calm—yet thousands were left to suffer. We watched food rot and seniors sit in cold homes for a "crisis" that never materialized.

  Our legislators consistently pass laws that make operations harder for small businesses; it is time they applied that same rigor to utility monopolies. We need a legislative mandate that prohibits power shutoffs unless there is an active fire in the immediate vicinity.

  Stop allowing utilities to use our basic needs as a bargaining chip for their legal protection. Our community deserves reliability, not manufactured emergencies.
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  Little Extreme

  by LM Citizen, 4 months ago

  We were told our power would be out for roughly 6 hours. That message came in a form of call, text and email. The power went out earlier and didn't come on until the next evening for about 6 hours. Then it went off for a few days. There was really little wind. We were led to believe by the news that things would be worse yet Xcel shut us down. Since we live in the foothills, we rely on wi-fi calling. When our power is shutdown, we have no service for phone or internet. With no power, we will... Continue reading

  We were told our power would be out for roughly 6 hours. That message came in a form of call, text and email. The power went out earlier and didn't come on until the next evening for about 6 hours. Then it went off for a few days. There was really little wind. We were led to believe by the news that things would be worse yet Xcel shut us down. Since we live in the foothills, we rely on wi-fi calling. When our power is shutdown, we have no service for phone or internet. With no power, we will not get an evacuation notice if there is a wildfire. Xcel may not want to get sued again but by shutting down the power, they are putting people in danger because we have no communications.

  
  

  I lost all the food in refrigerator and freezer. Spend money on food because Xcel only said our power would be out for about 6 hours. Seems like turning Colorado into an electric only state is not a wise idea and Xcel proved it.
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  Absurdities

  by Ddcaff, 4 months ago

  We live in Lake Valley just north of Boulder. Our power was off for the better part of 5 (five) days. Our internet provider went down. Our cell phone coverage is very sketchy even on a good day. Both of these issues are something we would like to see addressed as soon as possible. Maybe a cell tower that provides better coverage for our area or better power backup by our ISP and/or cell providers? In an emergency, medical care would have been delayed at least 30 minutes before we could even contact 911.

  Meanwhile, Xcel continued to attempt communication... Continue reading

  We live in Lake Valley just north of Boulder. Our power was off for the better part of 5 (five) days. Our internet provider went down. Our cell phone coverage is very sketchy even on a good day. Both of these issues are something we would like to see addressed as soon as possible. Maybe a cell tower that provides better coverage for our area or better power backup by our ISP and/or cell providers? In an emergency, medical care would have been delayed at least 30 minutes before we could even contact 911.

  Meanwhile, Xcel continued to attempt communication with us by electronic means (with no electricity at our house!). Fortunately, the messages they were trying to send us were totally inaccurate (note sarcasm) and so we benefited from not receiving them.

  I don't know the details of the Planned outage and certainly do not want to criticize the line workers who were out in hundred MPH winds restoring power (Thank You!), but it did seem quite excessive in duration and scope. I can't help but wonder how much the Xcel Legal/CYA Department influenced the decisions to leave the power off for 5 days?
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  Confusion and inept communications

  by Murph, 4 months ago
  The PSPS over Dec 19-21 was necessary for certain areas....just not mine. After the Marshall fire I can appreciate Xcel take precautions when there are high wind warnings. What I found so frustrating and expensive is that my area where I live had very little wind or gusts. We even had rain the night of the 19th.

  We received several texts in an attempt to keep us informed but they were conflicting and confusing. When talking to the folks on the line trucks and the area supervisor, even they admitted to being confused. I was told that the lead that... Continue reading

  The PSPS over Dec 19-21 was necessary for certain areas....just not mine. After the Marshall fire I can appreciate Xcel take precautions when there are high wind warnings. What I found so frustrating and expensive is that my area where I live had very little wind or gusts. We even had rain the night of the 19th.

  We received several texts in an attempt to keep us informed but they were conflicting and confusing. When talking to the folks on the line trucks and the area supervisor, even they admitted to being confused. I was told that the lead that served my home also served 2000 others. All I know is that the thousand homes on Green Mountain were in no danger. We had some wind gusts the evening of the 19th but nothing we haven't had before in the 20 years I have lived in my home. I lost $400 worth of frozen foods with no hope of compensation. If Xcel cannot refine their ability initiate a PSPS using a rifle approach in lieu of the shotgun approach, then I cannot see the level of increases they are seeking are warranted. It is anticipated that my power bill will double over the next 5 years.

  I see Mr. Kenney on TV boasting about how Xcel has improved their communication.....I call BS on that Again, my texts were conflicting, the employees were confused, and my area had no reason to be shut off. I was told about the train blown over in Wyoming and the 100+mph winds in Boulder. I'm sure that all happened but Boulder is 30 miles north of me and Wyoming is a 2-hour drive away....why were those areas relevant to mine?

  It is my hope that you continue to hold Xcel's feet to the fire regarding their PSPS strategy and keep it focused on areas that are truly impacted by high winds, not because they are afraid some area MAY be impacted. They must learn to be nimble and react accordingly.

  Thanks,

  William Murphy

  
  
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  Paybacks

  by GHDave, 4 months ago
  You know the old saying that "Paybacks are a b***h"? Well, Xcel said "Oh, so you're going to sue us because you think we might possibly have contributed to starting a fire? Ok, watch this!"

  
  

  It is totally unacceptable for Xcel to cut power in wide areas pre-emptively, and then take multiple days to restore it. I have the funds and space to own and operate a generator, so that I and my family can be warm and keep our food cold. Many people don't have this option. And in this century I should be able to expect reliable power... Continue reading

  You know the old saying that "Paybacks are a b***h"? Well, Xcel said "Oh, so you're going to sue us because you think we might possibly have contributed to starting a fire? Ok, watch this!"

  
  

  It is totally unacceptable for Xcel to cut power in wide areas pre-emptively, and then take multiple days to restore it. I have the funds and space to own and operate a generator, so that I and my family can be warm and keep our food cold. Many people don't have this option. And in this century I should be able to expect reliable power and not have to buy my own power source.

  Xcel needs to be required to compensate people for their losses, and they need to be required to harden their lines so they are safe when the wind blows. We live in a windy place, and this is nothing new - there have been occasional extreme winds all during the 55 years that I have lived in the area.

  I surely hope that the PUC and the Attorney General hold Xcel responsible for what they have done, and forces them to improve their service. If they don't, we can surely expect more of the same.